Anchor with releasable shank

Abstract

An anchor has a shank pivotally connected to a fluke structure via a pivot mount for rotation between locked and release configurations. The shank has a locking surface distal from the pivot mount engaging a portion of the fluke structure to resist the rotation in the locked configuration. An elastically deformable member couples the shank to the pivot mount and the rotation of the shank may require the deformable member to be elastically deformed and the locking surface to be displaced toward the pivot mount. A float may be attached to the shank at a position spaced away from the fluke structure. A pulling force component applied to the shank in a direction from the pivot mount toward the locking surface may provide greater resistance to rotation of the shank. Other anchor embodiments are also disclosed.

1. An anchor, comprising:
 a fluke structure having a pivot mount; 
 a shank pivotally connected to said fluke structure via said pivot mount for rotation between a locked configuration and a release configuration; said shank having a locking surface distal from said pivot mount, said locking surface engaging said fluke structure to resist rotation of said shank relative to said fluke in said locked configuration; 
 an elastically deformable member coupling said shank to said pivot mount; and 
 wherein rotation of said shank from said locked configuration to said release configuration requires said deformable member to be elastically deformed and said locking surface to be displaced toward said pivot mount. 
 
   
   
     2. The anchor of  claim 1  wherein said fluke structure further comprises an incompressible locking member spaced from said pivot mount, and wherein said locking surface engages said locking member in said locked configuration. 
   
   
     3. The anchor of  claim 2  wherein an angle between said fluke structure and said shank has a first value and said locking surface engages said fluke to resist rotation of said shank relative to said fluke structure in said locked configuration, and wherein said angle has a second larger value and said locking surface is disengaged from said locking member in said release configuration. 
   
   
     4. The anchor of  claim 2  wherein said locking surface is curved away from said pivot mount and said locking member has a curved engaging portion; and wherein said curved locking surface mates with said curved engaging portion when said shank is in said locked configuration to resist rotation of said shank relative to said fluke structure; and wherein said curved locking surface is disposed distal from said locking member in said release configuration. 
   
   
     5. The anchor of  claim 1  wherein said deformable member urges said locking surface away from said pivot mount in said locked configuration. 
   
   
     6. The anchor of  claim 1  wherein said deformable member surrounds said pivot mount. 
   
   
     7. The anchor of  claim 1  wherein said shank further comprises a locking leg and wherein said locking leg forms said locking surface. 
   
   
     8. The anchor of  claim 1  further comprising a float attached to said shank at a position spaced away from said fluke structure. 
   
   
     9. The anchor of  claim 1  wherein rotation of said shank from said locked configuration to said release configuration further requires a circumferential pulling force about said pivot mount be applied to said shank above a first force level and counteracting force be applied to said fluke structure. 
   
   
     10. The anchor of  claim 1  wherein a pulling force component applied to said shank in a direction from said pivot mount toward said locking surface provides greater resistance to rotation of said shank from said locked configuration to said release configuration. 
   
   
     11. The anchor of  claim 1 :
 wherein said shank further comprises a locking leg and wherein said locking leg forms said locking surface; 
 wherein said fluke structure further comprises an incompressible locking member spaced from said pivot mount, and wherein said locking surface engages said locking member in said locked configuration; 
 wherein said deformable member surrounds said pivot mount; 
 further comprising a float attached to said shank at a position spaced away from said fluke structure; 
 wherein rotation of said shank from said locked configuration to said release configuration further requires a circumferential pulling force about said pivot mount be applied to said shank above a first force level and counteracting force be applied to said fluke structure; 
 wherein a pulling force component applied to said shank in a direction from said pivot mount toward said locking surface provides greater resistance to rotation of said shank from said locked configuration to said release configuration; 
 wherein an angle between said fluke structure and said shank has a first value and said locking surface engages said fluke to resist rotation of said shank relative to said fluke structure in said locked configuration, and wherein said angle has a second larger value and said locking surface is disengaged from said locking member in said release configuration 
 wherein said locking surface is curved away from said pivot mount and said locking member has a curved engaging portion; and wherein said curved locking surface mates with said curved engaging portion when said shank is in said locked configuration to resist rotation of said shank relative to said fluke structure; and wherein said curved locking surface is disposed distal from said locking member in said release configuration. 
 
   
   
     12. An anchor, comprising:
 a fluke structure having a pivot mount and an incompressible locking member disposed in spaced relation to said pivot mount; 
 a shank pivotally connected to said fluke structure via said pivot mount for rotation with respect thereto generally about said pivot mount; said shank having a locking surface distal from said pivot mount; 
 an elastically deformable member coupling said shank to said pivot mount; 
 said anchor rotationally moveable between a locked configuration wherein an angle between said fluke structure and said shank has a first value and said locking surface engages said fluke to resist relative rotation of said shank relative to said fluke structure and a release configuration wherein said angle has a second larger value and said locking surface is disengaged from said locking member; and 
 wherein said deformable member urges said locking surface away from said pivot mount in said locked configuration. 
 
   
   
     13. The anchor of  claim 12  wherein rotation of said shank from said locked configuration to said release configuration requires said deformable member to be elastically deformed and said locking surface to be displaced toward said pivot mount. 
   
   
     14. An anchor, comprising:
 a fluke structure having a pivot mount and an incompressible locking member disposed in spaced relation to said pivot mount; 
 a shank pivotally connected to said fluke structure via said pivot mount for rotation with respect thereto generally about said pivot mount; said shank having a locking surface distal from said pivot mount; 
 an elastically deformable member coupling said shank to said pivot mount; 
 said anchor rotationally moveable between a locked configuration wherein an angle between said fluke structure and said shank has a first value and said locking surface engages said fluke to resist relative rotation of said shank relative to said fluke structure and a release configuration wherein said angle has a second larger value and said locking surface is disengaged from said locking member; and 
 wherein said deformable member surrounds said pivot mount. 
 
   
   
     15. An anchor, comprising:
 a fluke structure having a pivot mount and an incompressible locking member disposed in spaced relation to said pivot mount; 
 a shank pivotally connected to said fluke structure via said pivot mount for rotation with respect thereto generally about said pivot mount; said shank having a locking surface distal from said pivot mount; 
 an elastically deformable member coupling said shank to said pivot mount; 
 said anchor rotationally moveable between a locked configuration wherein an angle between said fluke structure and said shank has a first value and said locking surface engages said fluke to resist relative rotation of said shank relative to said fluke structure and a release configuration wherein said angle has a second larger value and said locking surface is disengaged from said locking member; and 
 wherein a pulling force component applied to said shank in a direction from said pivot mount toward said locking surface provides greater resistance to rotation of said shank from said locked configuration to said release configuration. 
 
   
   
     16. The anchor of  claim 15  wherein said shank further comprises a locking leg and wherein said locking leg forms said locking surface. 
   
   
     17. The anchor of  claim 15  further comprising a float attached to said shank at a position spaced away from said fluke structure. 
   
   
     18. The anchor of  claim 15  wherein said locking surface is curved away from said pivot mount and said locking member has a curved engaging portion; and wherein said curved locking surface mates with said curved engaging portion when said shank is in said locked configuration to resist rotation of said shank relative to said fluke structure; and wherein said curved locking surface is disposed distal from said locking member in said release configuration. 
   
   
     19. The anchor of  claim 15  wherein said fluke structure consists of a single fluke. 
   
   
     20. An anchor, comprising:
 a fluke structure having a pivot mount and an incompressible locking member disposed in spaced relation to said pivot mount having a curved engaging portion; 
 a shank pivotally connected to said fluke via said pivot mount for rotation with respect thereto generally about said pivot mount between a locked configuration and a release configuration; said shank having a forward leg distal from said pivot mount having a curved locking surface corresponding in shape to said curved engaging portion and curved away from said pivot mount; 
 an elastically deformable member coupling said shank to said pivot mount; 
 said curved locking surface mating with said curved engaging portion when said shank is in said locked configuration to resist rotation of said shank relative to said fluke structure; 
 said curved locking surface disposed distal from said locking member in said release configuration; and 
 wherein said deformable member urges said locking surface away from said pivot mount in said locked configuration. 
 
   
   
     21. The anchor of  claim 20  wherein rotation of said shank from said locked configuration to said release configuration requires said deformable member to be elastically deformed and said locking surface to be displaced toward said pivot mount. 
   
   
     22. An anchor, comprising:
 a fluke structure having a pivot mount and an incompressible locking member disposed in spaced relation to said pivot mount having a curved engaging portion; 
 a shank pivotally connected to said fluke via said pivot mount for rotation with respect thereto generally about said pivot mount between a locked configuration and a release configuration; said shank having a forward leg distal from said pivot mount having a curved locking surface corresponding in shape to said curved engaging portion and curved away from said pivot mount; 
 an elastically deformable member coupling said shank to said pivot mount; 
 said curved locking surface mating with said curved engaging portion when said shank is in said locked configuration to resist rotation of said shank relative to said fluke structure; 
 said curved locking surface disposed distal from said locking member in said release configuration; and 
 wherein said deformable member surrounds said pivot mount. 
 
   
   
     23. An anchor, comprising:
 a fluke structure having a pivot mount and an incompressible locking member disposed in spaced relation to said pivot mount having a curved engaging portion; 
 a shank pivotally connected to said fluke via said pivot mount for rotation with respect thereto generally about said pivot mount between a locked configuration and a release configuration; said shank having a forward leg distal from said pivot mount having a curved locking surface corresponding in shape to said curved engaging portion and curved away from said pivot mount; 
 an elastically deformable member coupling said shank to said pivot mount; 
 said curved locking surface mating with said curved engaging portion when said shank is in said locked configuration to resist rotation of said shank relative to said fluke structure; 
 said curved locking surface disposed distal from said locking member in said release configuration; and 
 wherein rotation of said shank from said locked configuration to said release configuration further requires a circumferential pulling force about said pivot mount be applied to said shank above a first force level and counteracting force be applied to said fluke structure. 
 
   
   
     24. An anchor, comprising:
 a fluke structure having a pivot mount and an incompressible locking member disposed in spaced relation to said pivot mount having a curved engaging portion; 
 a shank pivotally connected to said fluke via said pivot mount for rotation with respect thereto generally about said pivot mount between a locked configuration and a release configuration; said shank having a forward leg distal from said pivot mount having a curved locking surface corresponding in shape to said curved engaging portion and curved away from said pivot mount; 
 an elastically deformable member coupling said shank to said pivot mount; 
 said curved locking surface mating with said curved engaging portion when said shank is in said locked configuration to resist rotation of said shank relative to said fluke structure; 
 said curved locking surface disposed distal from said locking member in said release configuration; and 
 wherein a pulling force component applied to said shank in a direction from said pivot mount toward said locking surface provides greater resistance to rotation of said shank from said locked configuration to said release configuration. 
 
   
   
     25. The anchor of  claim 24  wherein said shank further comprises a locking leg and wherein said locking leg forms said locking surface. 
   
   
     26. The anchor of  claim 24  further comprising a float attached to said shank at a position spaced away from said fluke structure. 
   
   
     27. The anchor of  claim 24  wherein an angle between said fluke structure and said shank has a first value and said locking surface engages said fluke to resist rotation of said shank relative to said fluke in said locked configuration, and wherein said angle has a second larger value and said locking surface is disengaged from said locking member in said release configuration.